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On September 26, Trajtenberg issued his report. Social protest leaders called it a "blatant insult," vowing renewed mass nationwide demonstrations. On October 9, Israel's cabinet accepted it.
On October 10, Haaretz headlined, "Israel protest leaders vow to escalate fight, after cabinet approves Trajtenberg report," saying:
They promised "renewed demonstrations" against Trajtenberg's cosmetic changes, leaving vital issues poorly or unaddressed.
National Student Union chairman Itzik Shumuli said "it didn't do enough to increase the housing supply (especially public housing) or reduce the cost of living and combat the widespread use of temporary employees...."
Others want more spending but didn't get it. Instead, small amounts of money in Israel's existing budget were shifted from defense to social issues, but not enough to matter.
According to protest leader Daphni Leef:
"This committee received a limited charter, a pathetic charter, and it fulfilled (it) completely. We asked for a root canal and instead got our teeth cleaned. The summer of 2011 may be over, but our protest continues....We will not be mocked any longer or taken for granted."
For decades, neoliberal harshness harmed Israelis like Americans and Europeans. Millions demand real change, raging against policies they reject.
Fed up, they've occupied hundreds of cities. So did Israelis last summer. Betrayed, they'll be out again, knowing it's them against hardline Netanyahu extremists determined to maintain status quo pain.
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